Pitch-er Perfect: Iced Tea Gets The Batch Cocktail Twist For Summer Parties

Picture this—a pitcher of chilled, boozy iced tea on a hot summer’s day. The condensation rolls off the jug as you take that first crisp, delicious sip, which somehow quenches your thirst and leaves you wanting more all at the same time.

Hopefully the tone for this article has been set with this image in mind, because we’re about to get up close and personal with the world of boozy iced tea cocktails!

Any mundane iced tea recipe can become something truly exquisite when you throw in some magic elements like berries, citrus fruits, and peaches. To truly elevate your iced tea and go that extra mile, add some muddled herbs like mint and basil for that extra punch. Now pour in the alcohol of your choice and voila! You have the best boozy iced tea cocktails in town!

Making cocktails is always easier in batches so that larger quantities can be produced in one shot, decreasing the repeated effort that goes into crafting the perfect drink, and boozy iced tea beverages are no different! Best prepared in larger batches–these pitchers of boozy goodness are sure to delight you and the guests that you’re entertaining.

Read on for detailed recipes of iced tea cocktails which are sure to make this a memorable summer for you and your drinking buddies! 

Classic Long Island Iced Tea

It wouldn’t be fair to start with anything other than the Classic Long Island Iced Tea or LIIT as it’s commonly known. You can’t possibly go wrong with this quintessential iced tea cocktail!

(Serves 2-4 glasses)

Ingredients

• 60 ml Smirnoff vodka 
• 60 ml white rum
• 60 ml Don Julio tequila
• 60 ml triple sec
• 60 ml lemon juice
• 30 ml simple syrup
• A dash of cola to top it off (as per taste)
• Lemon slices for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Take a shaker and combine the tequila, rum, vodka, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Shake everything well and strain the mixture into a pitcher filled with ice
3. Add cola straight into the pitcher according to taste and mix well
4. Garnish with lemon slices on individual glasses while pouring

Peachy Bourbon Iced Tea

Peach schnapps, bourbon and iced tea sounds like a flavour match made in heaven, right? 

(Serves 2-4 glasses)

Ingredients

90 ml bourbon
60 ml peach schnapps
120 ml iced tea
30 ml lemon juice
Peach slices, for garnish (optional)
Mint leaves, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Fill your cocktail-serving pitcher with ice
2. Pour the bourbon and the peach schnapps into the pitcher
3. Add the iced tea and the lemon juice to the pitcher
4. Stir gently to combine
5. Garnish your cocktail glass with peach slices and mint leaves

Berry Gin Iced Tea

This cocktail combines berries, gin and iced tea to give you the most refreshingly delicious cocktail you’ve had in a while!

(Serves 2-4 glasses)

Ingredients

90 ml Tanqueray No. 10 gin
60 ml berry liqueur
120 ml iced tea
30 ml lime juice
Fresh berries, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Add ice to a serving pitcher
2. Pour the gin and berry liqueur into the pitcher
3. Add the iced tea and the lime juice 
4. Stir gently to combine
5. Garnish your glass with fresh berries

Spiked Arnold Palmer

An extremely popular drink in the boozy iced tea world, the spiked arnold palmer is sure to titillate your taste buds with its lemony freshness!

(Serves 2 glasses)

Ingredients

• 90 ml Smirnoff vodka
• 120 ml lemonade
• 120 ml iced tea
• Lemon slices, for garnish
• Mint sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a pitcher with ice.
2. Add vodka
3. Pour the lemonade and iced tea into the pitcher
4. Stir gently to combine
5. Garnish with lemon slices and mint sprigs.

Remember to enjoy your boozy iced tea cocktails responsibly as you and your guests take a break from the summer heat!